The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-28
A DEMORALIZED ARMY.

Disregard of Precedents by Secretary Endicott
Cen Sheridan in q Humiliating Position.
Washington Special
The army is terribly acknowledgements than
it WAS when Secretary Belknap and General
Sherman had the quarrel several years ago
which resulted in the removal of the headouar-
ters of the army to St. Louis and 1t is all the
fault Of Secretary Endcott. who has introduced
so many new wrinkles into the service. For ex-
ample. whenever the Secretary has been absent
from the city in the past he has designated the
General Of the Army to be acting Secretary of
War. MIR. Endicott designates General Drum
or General Benet of the Ordnance Corps. to fill
his place, and elevates these brigadier generals,
for the time being, to a rank higher than that OF
acknowledgement Sheridan. The latter is
compelled to ask orders of one Of his subordi-
mates. and take orders from and make reports to
him. The situation would be comical as a scene
in burlesque opera if the General of the Army
should issue an order to one OF his subordinates.
which that subordinate. acting temporarily as
Secretary of War, should override, as he would
have the authority to do. AS 1t is.
the situation comical enough to furnish
as good n theme as the predicament of the lord
high chancellor in the opera O. ''Iolantho.' Gen.
Sheridan is required once II 80 often 10 go to
General Drum Acting Secretary of War. and
Drum in his other capacity AS Adjutant general
TO do certain things. Suppose Drum should re-
fuse to approve such an order! Those who are
personally acquainted with General Sheridan
would be able to suggest scene OF what might
occur under such circumstances.
Another innovation or the Secretary demands
legislation by Congress to correct There are
number of officers in the army who, by reason Of
disabilities incurred in the service, have been
condemned for retirement and have been de-
clared unfit for duty Whenever a vacancy
ours the Secretary of War-at least the present
Secretary of War-exercises the right to desg-
nate officer he chooses from this list for re-
tirement. There Is no rule or rotation ahou: 1t.
Il is simply s question of favoritism. Officers
do not want to be retired. 1t is question of re-
dnced pay. They prefer to remain on the active
list enjoying sick leave or waiting orders on full
pay, TO being the retired list. The poor devil
| who has no friend at court has to go first, and
| the President has been very much annoyed by
| complaints of discrimination.
Another idea Endicott has introduced is to
| skip some officers for promotion who happened
to be on the list for retirement. Heretofore it
| has been the practice 10 give every opportunity
| to old and disabled officers to secure promotion
| before retirement. But Endicott has reversed
| this. When vacancy occurs on the active list
| by the death of soms colonel or other man of
| high rank the officer next in line for promotion
| is eligible for retirement by the exercise of the
| discretion OF the Secretary Of War. In the past,
| under such circumstances, he has been promoted
| and then retired upon his higher rank. Sec
rotary Endicott insists that he shall be retired
| without promotion, and the next officer the
list promoted instead when both might be. This
injnstce has been done in several cases. and If it
| we're done in all there would be less ground Gov
| complaint but it is show" =
that the Ser-. rne army regis.ol
| ---s,urary sxercises his discretion in this
] matter; that some deserving officers have been
retlred when then they might have been pro-
NOTED first, while others perhaps less deserving
| have been promoted first and then retired or
their promotion. Several cases of this kind
have been brought to the attention of the Presi
dent, who was poweriess to correct the wrong,
but promised that it should not occur again.